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LUBBOCK, Texas (Ticker) -- One down, one to go. Fourth-ranked Oklahoma took the first of two necessary steps toward a rematch with Nebraska by shutting down Texas Tech in the second half of a 30-13 Big 12 Conference victory. Defending national champion Oklahoma (10-1, 6-1 Big 12 South) took a step backward with a 20-10 loss at Nebraska on October 27. However, the Sooners have won three in a row by a combined 96 points to get back in the championship chase. Oklahoma has one regular-season game remaining, the "Bedlam Battle" with overmatched intrastate rival Oklahoma State. If the Sooners win that game, they would advance to the Big 12 title game, where an unbeaten Nebraska could be waiting. That contest would match two of the top three teams in the Bowl Championship Series standings, with the winner virtually assured of playing in the Rose Bowl for the national championship. Nate Hybl threw three touchdown passes and Tim Duncan kicked three field goals for the Sooners, who never trailed and held the Red Raiders to just three points after halftime. "You run out of words to describe how we are playing defensively," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "It hasn't just started; we have been playing this way all year. We have taken people out of their rhythm and the way we are creating field position is something to watch." "The effort was good but we fell short on key things," said Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, a former OU assistant. "They are an awfully good defense." The Sooners are 7-2 all-time against the Red Raiders. Texas Tech (6-3, 4-3) pulled within 13-10 when Ricky Williams took a screen pass from Kliff Kingsbury and zipped 40 yards for a touchdown with 4:23 left in the first half. But the Red Raiders managed just 41 yards in the second half until Wes Welker went 68 yards with a pass to the 9, setting up a 31-yard field goal by Robert Treece that made it 27-13 with 4:26 remaining. Antwone Savage's 56-yard kickoff return to open the second half went for naught when Hybl was picked off in the end zone by Ronald Sailor, who added another interception later in the third quarter. But Savage got his revenge, catching an eight-yard TD pass from Hybl to give the Sooners a 20-10 lead with just under eight minutes to go in the third period. "We had the toughness to fight through the first half," Stoops said. "To make a comeback in the second half and move the ball and score as we did, again, it shows a lot of character and toughness." Midway through the final period, a fumble recovery by defensive tackle Barry Holleyman gave the Sooners possession at the Tech 38. After a penalty, Hybl hit Mark Clayton with a 48-yard bomb for a 27-10 advantage with 6:21 to play. "Turnovers and field position, that is the key to our defense," OU linebacker Rocky Calmus said. "We want to create turnovers and give our offense good field position." Hybl completed 33-of-50 passes for 274 yards. Clayton caught six passes for 103 yards and Josh Norman caught 11 for 43. Quentin Griffin had 71 yards on 14 carries for the Sooners, who held a 384-247 edge in total yards. "I thought Nate was exceptional," Stoops said. "People are going to disagree with me I am sure, but they are not realizing how difficult it is sometimes out there." Kingsbury was 23-of-36 for 234 yards and two interceptions. Williams caught 12 passes for 88 yards but was limited to 19 yards on six carries as Oklahoma shut down Texas Tech's ground game. "I think OU is the best defense we've played against this season," Kingsbury said. "They had everything covered and did a good job of stopping our runs." Duncan and Treece traded 42-yard field goals in the first period and Duncan added a 25-yarder in the second period before Hybl found Chris Toney with an eight-yard TD pass for a 13-3 lead with 5:31 remaining.
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